Posts Tagged ‘NBA free agents’

Bryan Colangelo told us last week that he has a white board in his office full of ideas.

No kidding. There are a boatload of options for the Raptors president and general manager to pursue this summer.

Does he trade for a key player or sign one? Does he bring back Jerryd Bayless or let him go? Draft the scoring guard the team desperately needs, or the prototypical small forward with range the franchise is sorely missing?

What if yet another power forward is the best available player when it is time to make a selection? Does the pick get traded?

Those are just some of the key questions.

In the next few days, we’ll provdie an early list of some players that logically might interest the Raptors and my stab at what they might cost. Today, the free agents:

Via free agency:

Goran Dragic, PG – Houston loves him and GM Daryl Morey knows his stuff, but the team also has the excellent Kyle Lowry as the incumbent starter. The Raptors would gladly take either. Unless the offers get absurd, expect the Rockets to keep both players and utilize them at the same time on occasion, since both are solid defenders.

Projected cost: Unrestricted free agent, 4 years, $28-$36 million

Steve Nash, PG: Nash almost certainly will go to a contender, but the only lottery team with a shot at him is the only Canadian team. Has a good relationship with Colangelo, obviously and would become an even bigger star in Canada by joining the Raptors, but he’s toiled a long time without a ring. Also, Dwane Casey is a defensive-minded, half-court type of coach (though he says he’d love to see Toronto more up-tempo in the future). Nash might not be the right fit since Toronto’s core is extremely young, but his arrival would get the team into the playoffs and what a story it would be.

Projected cost: Unrestricted free agent, 2 years, maximum salary.

Nic Batum SG/SF: Portland surely will match any offers for this do-it-all swingman and he has said in the past he wasn’t too pleased Toronto said he had a heart issue after he had a draft workout for the team, but money talks. If the Raptors offer him a ton, Portland might let him go. Batum can shoot, slash and defend and would be a great fit.

Jeff Green SF: If he is medically cleared to play, Green likely will go back to the Celtics, but he’d also be a nice fit, provided he was healthy.

Projected cost: Unrestricted free agent, unclear.

DJ Augustin PG: If Charlotte is convinced Kemba Walker can man the point for the team going forward, any kind of reasonable offer for Augustin likely won’t be matched. Even if Walker isn’t a point guard, he and Walker are too small to play together in the same backcourt, so if a team wants Augustin, it likely can have him. he’s quick and can pass, but isn’t a great defender and is a streaky shooter.

Omer Asik C: The best backup centre in the league, he will have a Marcin Gortat-esque impact if he is ever turned loose. Though he’s not the offensive player Gortat is, Asik is a demon of a rebounder, a great defender and shot-blocker. Probably not a fit because Jonas Valanciunas is the future in Toronto at the position, but multiple sources have confirmed Toronto loves him.

Projected cost: Restricted free agent, 4 years, $28 million?

Anthony Parker SG: Time to repatriate Parker to add some veteran leadership? Doesn’t have a ton left and likely stays in Cleveland, but would provide some shooting.

Projected cost: Unrestricted free agent, 2 years, $4.5 million

Jason Terry SG: A Casey favourite, likely will stay put, perhaps to spend quite a bit of time playing beside Deron Williams.

Projected cost: Unrestricted free agent, 4 years, $32 million.

Carlos Delfino SF: Another ex-Raptor. Struggles to stay healthy and the Bucks want to keep him but has become a much better player since leaving Toronto.

Projected cost: Unrestricted free agent, 4 years, $26 million

Ersan Ilyasova PF: One of the best per-minute rebounders in the NBA. A good scorer too. Not really a fit, but perhaps could be if the Raptors took the dramatic step of using the amnesty on Amir Johnson (which I don’t think would be a good call). Unclear if he can play big minutes.

Projected cost: Unrestricted free agent, 4 years, $28-$32 million

Courtney Lee SG: Fits the need for a shooter off of the bench. A premier outside shooter and a pretty good defender, Houston probably matches most offers.

Projected cost: Restricted free agent, 4 years, $16-20 million

Steve Novak PF: Came out of nowhere to emerge as an impact player with New York. Arguably best outside shooter in the league but doesn’t do anything else particularly well. Somebody will sign him to be a specialist, but doesn’t make a lot of sense in Toronto because of Andrea Bargnani.

Projected cost: Unrestricted free agent, 3 years, $12 million

Lou Williams PG/SG: Philadelphia’s leading scorer despite coming off of the bench is basically a better Leandro Barbosa. Lots of teams will come calling for the second coming of Vinnie “The Microwave” Johnson.

Projected cost: Unrestricted free agent, 4 years, $28-$32 million

My math might be off a bit because the projections are based more on what players commanded under the previous CBA, but this at least gives you an idea of what they might command.